Tipping on HAL
 

HAL seems to spend a lot of time saying "Tipping Not Required" Their brochure actually says "Other cruise lines add gratuities atuomatically to your bill. On Holland America our crew has no other agenda than your delight"<BR><BR>From the people who have cruised HAL, are you still paying the standard $10 per day tips? Trying to swing a HAL cruise and if tipping really isn't required it helps off-set their slightly higher price.<BR><BR>Thanks!

While HAL states "Tipping Not Required" on our late August Alaska cruise (on HAL), 1st time cruisers (on our sailing) were very confused re: tipping policy.<BR>We tipped our cabin steward, waiter, asst. waiter, wine steward and room service delivery the same amount as we tip on other cruiselines. For a 7-night cruise we were close to $10/day per person. However, staff never once solicited tips or mentioned tips for excellent service. We had to ask for tip envelopes.

Hi Rick,<BR><BR>I only tip $5.00 per day per person. And not the maitre d' or head waiter.<BR><BR>I do tip the room service delivery staff $1.00.<BR><BR>Paul

We tip the waiter, bus boy, and room steward and that is it. The others forget it. This came off of the Celebrity website<BR><BR>dining room service<BR>Per Person Per Day<BR>Waiter $3.50<BR>Asst. Waiter $2.00<BR>Restaurant Manager $.75<BR><BR><BR>Now would someone tell me why the restaurant manager should get 75 cents a day?<BR><BR>Also<BR><BR>stateroom service<BR>Per Person Per Day<BR>Butler (suites only) $3.50<BR>Stateroom Attendant $3.50<BR>Chief Housekeeper $.50<BR><BR><BR>Also, who thinks the Chief Housekeeper needs a tip?<BR><BR>Interesting.....

Rick - this is an old subject and this is my opinion. The captain of one of the HAL ships told me that not only is tipping not required by HAL, but it is discouraged. The cruiseline takes the appropriate amount from their booking revenues and gives that to the crew. They make that much more than the crew on the standard cruise ships. He told me that when passengers also tip the crew that they begin to expect that so that when tipping is down they're demoralized and become disheartened. He has made recommendations to his superiors that HAL discontinue the "tips included" policy because its confusing.

We've sailed HAL 6x in the past 5 years, and agree that the marketing strategy of "tipping not required" can be confusing to those who haven't sailed HAL. Trust me when I say that the majority of HAL cruisers are generous tippers. We have never heard anything on board a HAL ship, either spoken or in print, to lead to the belief that "tips are discouraged" or "tips are included" as part of the fare. Quite the contrary. <BR>HAL does charge slightly more than RCCL, CCL, NCL etc, but IMHO the extra charge is far short of that charged by those few all inclusive cruiselines who clearly advertise that tips are included. HAL advertises that tips are not required. There is a big difference in the two marketing strategies. But once you are on a HAL ship, the CD and his staff make it clear that tipping for quality service is appropriate and expected. And since service on HAL has always been impeccable, we and most HAL passengers of our acquaintance do tip dining room waiters, bus boys, room stewards and any other service person (bartender, wine steward, cocktail waitress etc) who'se hard work and pleasant attitude add substance to the cruise experience.

So OK Torpeedo, what do you tip?<BR>I can not see tipping the standard cruise ship rate since the staff is being compensated by the line. This is why I tip 1/2. I believe this is adequate.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul,<BR><BR>You call yourself a travel expert? You must be one of those who books the cheapest inside cabin and then bitches about no upgrade or invitation to a VIP party.<BR><BR>$5.00 a day??? You don't deserve HAL!<BR>

Paul, I do agree that HAL's policy on tipping is confusing, but it wasn't my intent to engage in discussion as to how much to tip. But one prior poster stated that on HAL, tipping is not required, and/or discouraged. If that is the case, I have been misled and so I would really appreciate any feedback that supports your position that HAL staff is receiving additional compensation from the cruise line to justify a hefty reduction, or elimination of my tips. After all, I would not want my tipping to "dishearten" or "disillusion" any crew member,as was stated by another poster. Believe me, I will be happy to reduce, or even stop tipping entirely on HAL, if the cruise line is already compensating the crew. I just wasn't aware this to be the case.

Looks like the confusion continues. Maybe an e-mail to HAL will clear this up. Although I try to save money where I can I fully believe that good service deserves compensation. However, if as one person says, the cruise line pays them better then like Paul I would reduce my tip amounts. If however this is all hot air I wouldn't want the crew to suffer. Clarity is always a good thing!

I think Paul is wrong, and being cheap.<BR><BR>You should tip what you think is appropriate. <BR><BR>Drinks do not include a tip. Keep this in mind.<BR><BR>I tip the people who wait on me.

Rick,<BR>We are frequent cruisers and on our Hal/Amsterdam cruise, we became friendly with a dentist who is part of a volunteer dental consortium. His cruise passage was complimentary; in return, he took care of the dental needs of the crew (and perhaps passengers, if necessary). While HAL does take better care of their employees, in talking to the dentist, his opinion is that HAL's "no tipping REQUIRED" is taken too literally by first time cruisers. Crew work so hard for small wages, we would never insult by not tipping. HAL uses the 'no tipping required' as a good marketing promo. This is also true on Windstar Cruises(part of HAL).

Holland America states that "tipping is not required" and many passengers do not tip.<BR><BR>It stands to reason that HAL is not paying their staff the standard $40 - $60 per month as other "tipping" cruise lines do.<BR><BR>Therefore if your cabin attendant or wait-staff do over and above what an ordinary steward or wait-person does than a passenger should give cash in an envelope.<BR><BR>Since HAL has not truly defined "tipping" I would suggest, as above, $5 per person per day. Again, more of course for exemplary service.<BR><BR>I guess I should have added to my above post.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>

Rick,<BR><BR>Hal along with many other lines have some great sales going right now. Do your homework. You can get a great price for a Hal cruise if you are not set on a certain date. Lots of .coms are also offering on board credit. <BR>Hal does not have to be more $$ than other lines.

I continue to be confused by this subject. Why do people feel compelled to tip on HAL but not on, say, Radisson where tipping is "included"? Whats the difference between "tipping not required" and "tipping included". In either case, if you want to tip more that has already been "included", you certainily can do so. But don't think you're short changing the crew if you don't tip. Its just not true.

Yes, HAL should just come right out and say. "It is entirely up to you, the passenger, to tip the staff if you believe they have performed over expectations but our staff is well compensated and therefore we make the statement 'tipping is not required.'"<BR><BR>This is what I write on my comment card everytime I cruise HAL. Everyone should do the same. They should know by now that passengers are confused.<BR><BR>Paul

Wow Paul tips a hefty thirty five dollars a week. Quite generous considering it probabably is half of his yearly salary.

Only being practical Joe. And that amount is only a guideline. I have to tip the butler, wine steward, maitre 'd and head waiter. Those amounts are extra.